RF Power Amplifier Engineer

About the Role

Join ZeroPhase as an RF Power Amplifier Design Engineer to spearhead the development of high-performance transmission chains for our sovereign SDR systems. In this role, you will be the technical lead for designing, simulating, and validating high-efficiency, wideband power amplifiers that serve as the backbone of our connectivity hardware. You will bridge the gap between digital signal processing and physical transmission, ensuring our software-defined waveforms are amplified with maximum fidelity and optimal power consumption.

Responsibilities

• PA Design & Integration: Design and develop high-efficiency RF Power Amplifiers (PAs) specifically optimized for software-defined architectures (e.g., Doherty, Class E/F, or Outphasing).

• Modeling & Simulation: Perform non-linear circuit simulations (Load-pull, Harmonic Balance) using ADS or AWR to optimize for Gain, PAE (Power Added Efficiency), and ACLR.

• Linearization: Collaborate with DSP engineers to implement and validate **Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD)**algorithms to maximize PA linearity.

• Hardware Realization: Drive the end-to-end process from schematic capture and PCB layout (emphasizing thermal management and grounding) to hands-on prototyping.

• Characterization: Perform complex measurements of modulated signals (EVM, Peak-to-Average Power Ratio) across various SDR-driven waveforms.

• Automation: Write Python scripts to automate PA characterization across temperature, frequency, and voltage corners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (Focus on RF/Microwaves).

Required Skills

• 3+ years of industry experience specifically focused on RF Power Amplifier design.

• Expertise in Non-linear Circuit Simulation using ADS (Advanced Design System) or AWR Microwave Office.

• Deep understanding of PA architectures suited for SDR, including Gallium Nitride (GaN) or LDMOS technologies.

• Experience with matching network design for wideband applications to support frequency-agile SDRs.

• Hands-on experience with high-power test equipment: Vector Network Analyzers (VNA), Spectrum Analyzers, and Power Meters.

• Knowledge of how software-defined waveforms (QAM, OFDM) affect PA thermal and linearity requirements.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Thermal Modeling for high-power RF components.

• Familiarity with Envelope Tracking (ET) techniques to improve efficiency.

• Proficiency in Altium Designer with a focus on RF layout best practices (impedance control, thermal vias).

• Experience designing in the Ku, Ka, or V-band frequency ranges.

• Knowledge of DPD (Digital Pre-Distortion) feedback loops and their impact on hardware design.